If we’ve all found George’s transition to kid-who-goes-to-school (they grow up so fast!) traumatic, imagine how Kate Middleton must feel, seeing her first born stride, knee socked, out into the wide world. Actually, we don’t have to imagine anymore—since the duchess just filled us all in on how she’s coping.

In a speech at the Place2Be conference this morning (a charity supporting families and kids at school), the duchess opened up about the transition, describing herself as “a mother just getting used to leaving my own child at the school gates”, the duchess went on to say that’s she’s increasingly realising the importance of the community that raises a child alongside the parents.

This is the royal equivalent of a tear-emoji-filled Instagram post, guys.

For the occasion, Kate wore a $800 wool sheath dress by a perennial favourite brand, Goat. If you like the silhouette, but don’t consider yourself a raisin/burgundy person, it’s also available in yellow and black.

And ICYMI: She was also out and about last night (again supporting The Anna Freud National Center For Children and Families, another child mental health focused patronage of hers), wearing a recycled DVF lace gown that may look familiar from a gala event a few years back. (Hi royal baby #3!)